STUMPS: WHAT AN EXCITING DAY! India sure have the upper hand, but a lot will depend on how Shaun Marsh and Travis Head take their partnership ahead tomorrow. India will be looking for an early breakthrough to welcome captain Tim Paine before the tail enters. An Indian win will be history as never before have India won an opening Test in Australia! The last day is going to be an exciting finish. Play begin LIVE at 5am IST to make up for the lost overs due to rain on Day 3.

12:19pm: INJURY CONCERN! Jasprit Bumrah has hurt his shoulder while diving, is heading off the field with the physio Patrick Farhart. Fingers crossed he’s OK.

12:15pm: WICKET! That’s the wicket India were looking for! Mohammed Shami breaks the partnership, cramping up Peter Handscomb for space with a well directed bouncer. Handscomb tried to pull, but miscued it completely to give Cheteshwar Pujara an easy catch at midwicket. Handscomb departed for 14 off 40.

12:06pm: Handscomb and Marsh have been batting confidently, India will want to break this partnership before stumps. 14 remaining before close of play.

11:57am: Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb are taking their time to get a look-in, they’ve done well so far to steady the innings.

11:50am: Ravi Ashwin to continue after drinks!

11:45am: Ishant Sharma has been introduced back into the attack. India will look to make further roads, probably another two more wickets with 19 overs remaining before stumps on the penultimate day.

Quite impressed the way Pujara has played in these both innings. Really enjoyed his batting. And, India is in good position at the moment. I hope we carry this from here and win the Adelaide Test. #AusvIndpic.twitter.com/OncmRLn962

11:17am: WICKET! Ravichandran Ashwin has struck again! Usman Khawaja came down the pitch and tried to loft it over midoff, but got deceived by the flight, got the edge as Rohit Sharma picked up a good catch at deep extra cover. Khawaja departs for 8.

11:09am: Jasprit Bumrah has not yet conceded a single run in the five overs he’s bowled in the second innings. Usman Khawaja did well to leave all those teasing outside off deliveries. Bumrah had earlier bowled nine maidens in the first essay.

10:59am: India are oozing confidence here, but what’s going to keep them grounded will be the start under-performing Shaun Marsh has got. He can be a match-winner in these circumstances.

Big innings. If Shaun Marsh doesn’t go well here he might not get on the 2023 Ashes tour. #AUSvIND

10:48am: WICKET! Finally, Mohammed Shami draws the edge from Marcus Harris, who departs for 26. Harris livid with himself for playing that poor shot. Shami is pumped up, so is Kohli and the rest of the Indian team. ADVANTAGE India!

WICKET! Marcus Harris cuts at one that hasn’t got enough width, takes the edge and Pant does the rest.

10:45am: Ravichandran Ashwin has been troubling the Aussie batsmen, getting the same purchase what Nathan Lyon did earlier. However, debutant Marcus Harris looks to be settling in nicely and India will want to see his back soon.

10:36am: DROPPED! Marcus Harris flashes this one off Mohammed Shami, and Cheteshwar Pujara, standing at first slip has put down a tough chance with the gap between first and third slop quite big. There is no second slip.

10:15am:Tea: But, wait a minute, the snicko shows that there was no nick, but Finch, after discussions with his non-striker Harris, chose not to review it. Finch’s dismissal marks tea.

9:54am: After getting a reprieve, courtesy DRS that showed Ishant Sharma stepping over the line, Aaron Finch has begun watching the ball closely with the debutant Marcus Harris looking well settled. India will need early wickets.

According to WinViz India have an 81% chance of defending 323 & recording only their sixth ever Test win in Australia from 45 matches. Ashwin holds the key against Australia’s leftie-heavy top order & on a pitch turning 4.68° – more than any other in Adelaide since 2006. #AUSvIND

9:16am: Aaron Finch survives! Ishant Sharma pins the Aussie opener in front and the umpire raises his finger. Finch refers and it’s a front foot no ball. Ball-tracker shows that would have clipped the top of stumps.

9:15am: So the two Australian openers Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris will kickstart their chase of 323. Ishant Sharma has the new ball. Here we go!

9:08am: THAT’S IT: Mitchell Starc has picked up the last wicket of Ishant Sharma, who tried to defend that short delivery, but ended in giving an easy catch to Aaron Finch at short-leg. India end their second dig at 307, overall lead by 323 runs. Nathan Lyon was the pick of the bowlers with six wickets.

8:55am: HAT-TRICK denied! Lyon has been denied his hat-trick after Jasprit Bumrah strides forward and defends it with soft hands, but Lyon has picked 6 wickets as India’s aggressive intent in the post-lunch session has backfired.

8:52am: WICKET! Ajinkya Rahane, who was looking so good for his 70, departed after playing a reverse sweep off Nathan Lyon that gave Mitchell Starc an easy catch at backward point.

Must say Aus have kept themselves in the game. Bowlers haven’t wilted under pressure, Lyon has picked up 5 wickets including Virat, Pujara, Rohit and Rahane. India’s lead, however, past 300. Enough to win?

8:45am: GONE! Ravichandran Ashwin was looking to pull that one off Starc, but it lands straight into the hands of Marcus Harris at deep backward square. Ashwin departs for 5.

To win this Test match, Australia will now have to make the highest winning fourth-innings total at Adelaide.
The home side had made 315/6 to beat England way back January 1902, nearly 117 years ago!#AusvInd#AusvsInd

8:22am: WICKET! In his next over, Nathan Lyon gets his man. Pant was looking to heave this one, but ended up getting caught by Aaron Finch at deep cover point. Pant’s fiery innings comes to an end after a nice cameo, departs for a 16-ball 28.

So much ability for Rishabh Pant. When he marries it to discretion, he will be some player…… This was a nice little cameo, important runs, but there was more in his tank.

8:12am: WOAH! Rishabh Pant continues his no-holds-barred approach, taking on Nathan Lyon in the first over post lunch. Pant has SMASHED THREE CONSECUTIVE BOUNDARIES AND finished off the over with a SIX off Lyon.

Lunch: India have extended their lead to a commanding 275 runs, adding 109 runs to the first session, this due to a brilliant 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. That brilliant partnership was broken by some exceptional bowling by Nathan Lyon, who picked the big wicket of Pujara, departing to a standing ovation from the Adelaide crowd, for 71, before Rohit Sharma added just 1. Barring Lyon, no other Aussie bowler has been threatening. India will look to get their lead beyond 350, while Australia will hope Lyon can do the job for them. Stay tuned for an exciting next session…

7:26am: FOUR! New batsman Rishabh Pant is NOT going to hold back from playing his strokes, probably that’s the message passed on to him from the dressing room as well. Pant has belted this one to long-on, going against the spin off Nathan Lyon.

7:16am: WICKET! Nathan Lyon gets another wicket, this one of Rohit Sharma, who departs for 1. Rohit, who tried to jab it, ended up getting a slight nick as it loops to the off side with Peter Handscomb picking up a screamer, one-handed catch at silly point.

7:07am: Meanwhile, Nigel Llong gets a pat on his back from the other onfield umpire Kumar Dharmasena for getting a decision right after three of his decisions were overturned by DRS. However, Llong was helped by Pujara himself walking after Finch took the catch.

6:59am: BIG WICKET! Nathan Lyon sets up Cheteshwar Pujara nicely with some brilliant bowling in the right line, and finally gets the wicket after Pujara kicked at it with the bat behind pad to give Aaron Finch an easy catch at short-leg. Pujara departs after a brilliant 71 off 204 balls.

That match-up between Lyon & Pujara was one of the best individual clashes of the year. Two of the world’s very best going head to head with the game in the balance. Lyon may have eventually got his man but Pujara—having scored 194 runs in the Test—has defined the match. #AUSvIND

Not sure if Nigel Llong would have given that if Pujara hadn’t begun to walk. Pad, then glove and to the close-in fielder. Another strong hand from Pujara, 71, taking the game further away from Australia. #AUSvIND#Pujara

With Nathan Lyon not having any real impact and Starc giving away free runs, Paine has started to feel the pain. This pair winning the game for India. 400 lead and it will be a mountain to climb for Australia.

6:39am: This Pujara-Rahane partnership, currently at 80 runs is the highest in the match.

If Cheteshwar Pujara scores another ton:
-He would’ve scored 100s in each inns for the 1st time in his career
-6th Indian to do so in Tests
-6th time an Indian would’ve done this away from home
-Would join Hazare (1948), Kohli (2014) to achieve this feat in Adelaide #AUDvIND

6:37am: Mitchell Starc just not getting his line right, this over going for four byes and a beautiful lofted shot by Pujara in the last ball over gully. India slowly getting into a winning position.

6:28am: Australia have the second NEW BALL and it’s immediately handed over to Mitchell Starc, who has been patch and not at all threatening.

Starc just not getting his line right and giving away free runs. Badly hurting Australia. Huge session this for India. Gradually getting into a winning position thanks to this partnership between @cheteshwar1 and @ajinkyarahane88

6:19am: Drinks at Adelaide and India have dominated this session adding 43 runs with Pujara and Rahane looking to extend that lead, now at 224, at an upwards of 250 to set the perfect platform for Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant to go bang bang! “India have batted very well. New ball will be important. We’ve just got to keep bowling good balls,” Marcus Harris tells FOX Cricket.

A huge part of the Aussie armoury is handicapped with their “good boy” approach. Out of their comfort zone! #AUSvIND

Australia’s lack of a fifth bowler being exposed here. Cummins breaking his back bowling short stuff just minutes before the new ball, means that he can’t come back full tilt this session. If Oz don’t get an early breakthrough with the new nut, the game is gone. #AUSvIND

6:04am: India almost in the driver’s seat here, with the pitch flat, and Australia… well, even flatter 😉 That’s the state right now. Australia, besides Nathan Lyon, have not looked threatening. Pujara solid, Rahane growing in confident, their partnership currently stands at 52.

Lyon joins Shakib Al Hasan (Bdesh v Eng at Chittagong 2016) as the only bowlers who have had 3 batsmen given out on field and overturned on review in the same Test innings.

5:53am: DRS SAVES RAHANE! If the DRS saved Cheteshwar Pujara twice yesterday, then Rahane had his fair bit of luck today after Nathan Lyon’s appeal for an lbw was given out by Nigel Llong. Feel for Lyon after losing three appeals to DRS. Meanwhile, India’s lead has CROSSED 200!

5:36am: FOUR! Too short from Nathan Lyon and Pujara was quick to pull that one to deep midwicket. He’s in too good a form to bowl short at this point of time.

5:32am: Nathan Lyon has been introduced into the attack and there’s an interesting contest rolling out between Rahane and Lyon. As expected, Lyon banging it consistently into the rough areas. Will be interesting to see how Rahane and Pujara tackle Lyon.

5:21am: Cheteshwar Pujara follows his first innings century with a fine half-century in the second dig, his 20th in Tests. Looking rock solid is Che Pujara. Ajinkya Rahane giving him good support as the duo are keeping the scoreboard ticking.

5:08am: FOUR! Josh Hazlewood began from the other end and was looking stiff. One of his deliveries, a pie from Hazlewood, was picked up early by Cheteshwar Pujara and struck a beautiful cover drive. The next one however, found the edge and it ran past gully to the boundary. Consecutive fours for India.

5:03am:MAIDEN!Mitchell Starc start off with a maiden over, his fourth of the innings. Ajinkya Rahane, who was facing him, did well to watch the ball. Massive opening hour coming up…

4:58am: Pitch report from former Australia batsman Mark Waugh: “No cracks yet, pitch will hold up well,” he feels. “As a batsman, it could be a challenge to see how the ball will behave when the offspinners bowl into the rough outside off from one of the ends. Not much rough for Ashwin for the left-handers.”

“Don’t think the pitch will get much worse, that they have a lot of left handers will help them,” says Michael Clarke. “But wishful thinking from Brendan Julian that Australia can chase 300 plus. Going to be a tough ask.”

A strong batting performance from India in the second innings has given them a lead of 166 over Australia, and with seven wickets in hand, including that of first-innings centurion Cheteshwar Pujara, they would want to swell it to put Australia under the pump.